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Hook up with other writers.

There are two parts of writing. The first is butt-in-chair. You put your vision, words, plot, story, and ideas on a written page. The second part involves ensuring that your writing comes across as you want it to.

To improve the quality and approachability of your writing you need to join a writing organization.

Writing organizations come in many flavors and genres. Here are four of my favorites:

• The Pacific Northwest Writing Association -- PNWA

PNWA is a Seattle-based writing organization that covers all genres. It holds weekly meetings on craft and marketing and has an excellent summer conference.

• The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America -- SFWA

This group provides great information about writing, polishing and submitting stories.  SFWA is also at the forefront in the battle to protect authors' intellectual property rights.

• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators -- SCBWI

This group, which gets the award for the worst acronym, is a wonderful place to meet other writers, attend excellent monthly meetings, and increase your skills and knowledge. I highly recommend this group for children's writers.

• Whidbey Island Writers Association -- WIWA

A great group of writers who formed their own MFA program. Check out the program's residencies.